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OVERVIEW

Six free, ready-to-teach lessons that help students in grades 6-12 learn about voting and taking part in our democracy. Offered by the League of Women Voters of Seattle King County for learners, community colleges, and community groups.

Everything you need is included: slide presentations, scripts and materials for interactive activities. Each lesson fits a 45-minute class. Teach them in any order, or on their own.

THE SIX LESSONS

PART I: FIGHTING FOR THE VOTE

Fighting for the Vote: The history of voting, who is (and isn't) voting today, and practice making informed choices

Lesson 1: The Suffrage Timeline (What’s it Worth?)
Students learn about the history of their vote— from the start of the nation through the ongoing fight against voter suppression. This lesson includes an interactive game where participants take on an avatar (character) and role play when in the timeline the avatar earns the right to vote. Included are all the avatar cards as well as instructions and different combinations of avatar cards, depending on class/group size.

- Presentation and script:  Presentation and Script
- Avatar cards 1-28:  Avatar cards 1-28
- Avatar cards 29-50:  Avatar cards 29-50
- Avatar game directions:  Avatar game directions

Lesson 2 : The Truth About Turnout (Who’s Got the Power?)
Students learn about who turns out to vote and why people vote or don’t vote. This lesson includes an interactive excuses game that covers reasons why people don’t vote and what one can say to minimize/eliminate excuses and encourage voting.

- Presentation and script: The Truth About Turnout
- Presentation of excuses and responses: Presentation of Excuses and Responses
- Excuses game directions :  Excuses game directions
- Excuses game cards for students:  EXCUSES cards for Students
- Teacher copy of the excuses game:  EXCUSES cards for Teachers

Lesson 3: Vote By Design (How Do I Choose?)
Students learn about a nonpartisan, issue-free process for use in selecting candidates with values and priorities that students support. Each presentation will look at a different government position (identified below). This lesson also includes a questionnaire designed for participants to discuss qualities they value in a leader.

- Presentation and script for local elections: Local Elections
- Presentation and script for Board of Education:  Board of Education
- Presentation and script for Governor:  Governor
- Presentation and script for President: President
- Questionnaire on qualities of a leader:  Leader Questionnaire

PART II: FIGHTING FOR CHANGE

Fighting for Change: Identifying issues, qualities of leadership, and how anyone can lead at any age

Lesson 4: What’s Your Issue (How Do I Determine Issues Important to Me?)
Students learn that leadership is important, but that leadership is a group process and needs engaged supporters — the people. Participants explore the qualities of an effective leader via discussion of current issues.

- Presentation: What's Your Issue Presentation
- Script: What’s Your Issue Script

Lesson 5: How Do I Effect Change (Inform, Act, Monitor)
Students identify an issue of importance to them and explore how the issue impacted them and others. Bringing attention to their position, and knowing their rights when doing so, participants draft policy and advocate for it.

- Presentation: How Do I Effect Change Presentation
- Script: How Do I Effect Change Script

Lesson 6: Across the Divide (How Do I Actively Listen? How Do I Speak To Be Heard?)
Students learn to speak so others can “hear” them and listen to understand the beliefs of others. Skills practice helps participants learn to express their concerns with conviction and civility.

- Listening presentation: Listening Presentation
- Listening script: Listening Script
- Speaking presentation: Speaking Presentation
- Speaking script: Speaking Script

A VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

Watch "train the trainer" recordings taught by Dr. Pat Supplee of the New Jersey League, who helped write the original program. Some content is specific to New Jersey and was changed in the Washington version.

Fight for the Vote Training Link
Lesson 1 comes first in the video, taking approximately 50 minutes.
Lesson 2 starts at minute 55.

Fight for Change Training Link
Lesson 4, What's Your Issue, starts at minute 13.
Lesson 5, How Do I Effect Change, starts at minute 114.

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OVERVIEW